Suzuki Creates a Splash for Paris Motorshow
Here’s an interesting one. Suzuki has just released the first sketch of its new concept, the Splash. It’s based off the excellent European-market Swift, which means it’ll have tidy handling, a comfortable ride, and will be about as agile is a sewing needle through city traffic.
Though it’s being shown for the first time in France, there’s plenty of Japanese influience in the body. It’s tall (so you don’t have to take off your Gangs of New York hat), and it’s interesting looking, with a borrowed-from-Audi grille, skinny vertical turn signal indicators on the fenders, and gigantic insect-eye headlamps. The profile of it is cool too, with a sloping coupe-like roof and a belt line that disguises the fact that it’s got four doors.
Of course, the tiny Japanese firm has done a bit of tailor-work to the chassis. Although the car is longer than the Swift, it’s wheelbase is 20 mm shorter. Go figure. And with all that extra glass and metal, it’s probably heavier too. To make matters somewhat less interesting, it’s also less powerful than the Swift, with a tiny 1.2-litre inline-four under the hood, and a four-speed automatic as a gearbox. Maybe Suzuki is hiding something. Perhaps it’s a hybrid?